The Lord is My Shepherd

Hello, Friends!

This is going to be a long blog post, but I wanted to share this and also, I want to have it recorded here to refer to when needed.  You may want to split this reading up, or be my guest, and read it all at once!  Your choice!  

Three years ago, I posted a series of posts on Facebook about the 23rd Psalm.  This has been such a foundation of my beliefs on abundance and trusting that the Lord will take care of me.  It has been so significant in my life!  So, I wanted to reshare here 😊  Here goes:

The Challenge

Several years ago, my mom gave me a paper that suggested that as a "prescription" to change thinking and to change your life, you should read the 23rd Psalm five times a day for seven days. It talked about not just reading it, but digesting it and really mindfully reading it and thinking about it and internalizing it. I took the challenge at that time. It was amazing.

Now I read the Psalm frequently to remind me that the Lord is mindful of me. It's what I want to focus on. It's what I want to have expanded in my life. 

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

If you want to change your life for the better, if you want to change your thinking and become more positive, maybe you could take the challenge. See what shows up in your life as a result!
 :)

A More In-depth Study

I want to comment on the first phrase of the Psalm. "The Lord is my shepherd." What does this mean? This means to me that He knows me. He takes care of me. He has my best interest in mind. 

 I would like to share a quote. It's a bit long, but it illustrates the importance of coming to know the Shepherd. Robert E. Wells in a talk or article entitled "Know the Shepherd" said, "I once heard President Hugh B. Brown relate this inspiring story: Sometime ago a great actor in the city of New York gave a wonderful performance in a large theatre, at the close of which there were rounds of applause. He was called back again and again. Finally someone called to him, 'Would you do for us the Twenty-third Psalm?'
'Why, yes. I know the Twenty-third Psalm.'
He recited it as an actor would, perfectly, with nothing left to be desired as far as performance was concerned. When he was finished, again there was thunderous applause. Then the actor came to the front of the stage and said: 'Ladies and gentlemen, there is an old man sitting here on the front row whom I happen to know. I am going to ask him without any notice if he will come and repeat the Twenty-third Psalm.'
 The elderly gentleman, of course, was frightened. Trembling, he came to the stage. Fearfully he looked out over the vast audience, bowed his head, and talked to God, and [repeated the Psalm]...
When the old man finished, there was no applause, but there was not a dry eye in that house. The actor came to the front of the stage. He, too, was wiping his eyes. And he said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I know the words of the Twenty-third Psalm, but this man knows the Shepherd.'" 

Robert E. Wells went on to say, "We should each ask, 'Am I loving enough, am I studying enough, am I serving enough to know the Shepherd?' May we all come to know the Savior, through obeying his commandments, that when we meet him face to face, we each can say, 'I know thee; thou art my Shepherd.'"

Verse 2

I think it is amazing how much we can learn from the scriptures. It's also amazing how much our children can learn from the scriptures. They are powerful! So, verse 2 says, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." 

When I think of green pastures, I think of abundance, plenty, healthiness. I saw the perfect picture that describes this verse. It was on the inside of the cover of the February Ensign. It shows a river flowing through a desert. All around the river, there are green, lush trees. Away from the river is just sandy desert with no sign of life. Next to the picture was this scripture found in Jeremiah 17:7-8, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." Please note that "see" in this scripture means "fear." I shall not fear when the heat cometh. 

Is it possible that we can be living in spiritual abundance while all around us is spiritual drought? Yes! It is possible! If we stay close to the living waters (Jesus Christ), we will have abundance. We need to spread out our roots by the living waters and receive of His support and His goodness.
 I also love the phrase, "He leadeth me." Think of divine guidance. I love picturing being led by the Lord. Elder Tai Kwok Yuen said, "Ofttimes we become anxious and fearful as we confront the complexities of life. If we seek divine guidance and follow the gospel path, we will be led to our final destination." Elder Richard G. Scott said, "The Lord has placed currents of divine influence in your life that will lead you along the individual plan He would have you fulfill here on earth." INDIVIDUAL plan. I am so grateful to know that God has a plan for me and that He will lead me along the path.

Verse 3

Psalm 23:3  "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." 

In place of restoreth, you can put the word replenishes. What is restored in the soul? Goodness and decency. This comes as "we come to know the Savior through keeping his commandments and serving him," according to James E. Faust. 

Sometimes I feel weary. It seems like it's so hard to keep up; it's so hard to keep track. Well, often I am so spiritually fed at my church meetings that literally I feel as if my soul has been replenished and restored. I have been renewed. My problems are not all solved, and yet I feel better about life because I feel that I am not alone. I feel that I have a strength beyond my own...and I am so grateful!

Verse 4 

Psalm 23:4 says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for though art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." 

Something that sticks out to me is that it says "though I walk." I think it's important in life to keep walking! Do not freeze up or hide under a rock when faced with adversity...keep walking. Keep walking knowing that He is with you and as our faith in Him increases, our fear will decrease. 

Also a great scripture about this is D&C 84:88. He will go before your face and be on your right hand and on your left. Doesn't that alleviate a lot of fear? 

 The last phrase of this verse has been interesting to me. In the Bible dictionary we find that "A shepherd's rod was a club approximately three feet long, with a knob on one end. It was used to beat wolves away from the herd. A staff, sometimes called a rod, is longer; it was used for walking, resting, or for guiding the sheep." So, the last phrase of that verse could be read "His defense and guidance they comfort me." He is there to defend us and to guide us :) 

Verse 5  

:)
Psalm 23:5 "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." 

The question is, will we partake? The Lord prepares a table before us...will I partake? He wants us to partake of His feast. Feast upon His word, His love, His abundance. Sometimes we choose just to nibble here and there. Sometimes it is so hard to open our hearts and receive! 

Hymn # 108 "The Lord is my Shepherd" which is based on this Psalm says, "In the midst of affliction, my table is spread. With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o're. With perfume and oil thou annointest my head. Oh, what shall I ask of my providence more?" What does our cup runneth over with? "unmeasured blessings." Also it runneth o're with blessed knowledge and conviction; according to Marvin J. Ashton, "Your lamp too can runneth over with spiritual fuel."

Verse 6 

 Verse 6 says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." 

The footnote for "goodness" is "peace of God." I would love to have the peace of God follow me for the rest of my life and forever. I know that with the peace of God, His goodness, and mercy, I will be able to face life's challenges so much better. In the end, isn't our goal to "dwell in the house of the Lord for ever?" It's also His goal for us. We know that His "work and...glory [is] to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." When our goals are aligned with the Lord's will for us, miracles happen. We are led and guided by the Shepherd so that we may live with Him again (and hopefully, we help others along the way).

I want to leave you with this thought from the original "prescription" given to me by my mother. It says, "The power of this psalm lies in the fact that it represents a positive, hopeful, faith approach to life. The Twenty-third Psalm is a pattern of thinking, and when a mind becomes saturated with it, a new way of thinking and a new life are the result. It contains only 118 words. One could memorize it in a short time. In fact, most of us already know it. But its power is not in memorizing the words, but rather in thinking the thoughts." - Charles Allen (from Norman Vincent Peal's "Treasury of Courage and Confidence") 

May we all "think the thoughts" that can change our lives to lives of abundance, peace, goodness, mercy, faith, and feasting!

Much Love, 🎔

Heather

Seize Opportunities; Don't Wait for Perfection

I'm super good at gathering information.  I look at Pinterest; I read books; I go to classes; I attend groups; I attend church.  Sometimes, I find myself waiting to implement positive change.  What am I waiting for?  I'm waiting until I know enough or until I understand it thoroughly.  I wait until I have a perfect plan ready to implement.  I wait until timing is just right and cue cards are ready.  I want the perfect path before I take a step.

In my life, I have found that this has WASTED so many good opportunities!  It has left me feeling like it's never enough.  I'll never be good enough.  What a lie!  That is just crap!  I'm calling it what it is.  More and more, I'm trying to seize the moment and implement things as they show up.  Most of the time, I don't implement them perfectly.  I don't always stick with them or turn them into habits.  But, I have gained so much by doing good things without waiting!

I especially see this playing out in my parenting.  Want to implement chores?  Want to teach the gospel more?  Want to teach values?  Want to teach money responsibility?  JUST DO IT! Do it in the small moments.  Do it in small amounts.  It's ok if you don't have charts and lesson plans and worksheets and quantifiable results (can you tell I was a teacher?).  It counts!  It's good!  And it ADDS UP!!!

For example, one area that I feel that I haven't done well with my children is teaching them financial responsibility and money matters.  I've researched allowances and tried to figure out the perfect "system."  Well, folks, life takes trial and error.  It takes adjusting.  It takes making mistakes and learning from them. It takes flexibility!

My 10 year old daughter has been trying to save money for something she wants.  I tried to see if it was just a passing whim, but she has really stuck with it.  For a kid with no allowance, it's a large sum of money that she needs to get.  In the past, I would have discouraged her.  I wouldn't have seized this teaching opportunity.

When I realized that this was not going to just pass, I got on board to try to help teach some financial responsibility and to teach her about goal setting, sticking with it, and achieving it!  We talked about options for her to make money.  She settled on making lip glosses and selling them.  This is something I really enjoy doing.   We talked about how much we would sell them for.  I had her pay for supplies.  We talked about how much would need to be paid for tithing.  She helped make the lip gloss.  It has been QUALITY time with my daughter (her love language...bonus!). It has sent the message that I care!

Because of the kindness and goodness of my neighbors (seriously, they are the best. ever. and I'm not kidding), she has experienced success in working toward her goal!  Yay!!  She hasn't reached her overall goal yet, but she sure is motivated to keep going.

I have loved seeing her confidence grow.  I can she her learning.  Has it been perfect?  No!  Have we had a perfect business plan?  No!  Did we wait to have cute labels, shrink wrap, etc?  No.  But if I was waiting for all of that, I would have missed ALL OF THIS!!!! We started where we were.  We used what we had.

Seize the opportunities that present themselves. In my experience, the things we need show up when we need them.  This is how God has worked in my life.  Believe me, sometimes I have wanted to "Return to Sender," but in hind sight I always see God's wisdom.  Don't wait for perfection to implement good things in your life.  Do it now.  Do it in small amounts.  Do it a little at a time.  JUST DO IT!!!

I have never regretted it yet!

MUCH LOVE!!  💕

Heather

The Language of Love

I love this too much not to share!!!  "Parents love their children, but the reality is that not all children feel loved...There is a huge difference between loving children and children feeling love."



Do you ever feel like you are just missing the mark?  Do you feel like you are giving love, but it's just not being received in the way you would like?



I love this video about the 5 love languages in children, and I think it is so important!  When children feel loved and secure, they are less likely to act out and misbehave (of course they still do, but the frequency still goes down).



I am trying to send the right love messages to my children.  It's a process, but it's amazing how they SOAK it up!!



Good luck parents!



Much Love -

Heather

Sacrament and Sacrifice

Tomorrow is the Sabbath, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will get the privilege and opportunity to partake of the Sacrament once again.  As a mother with small children, it is often hard to feel like I'm really in tune with the Spirit during the Sacrament or that I'm really getting out of the Sacrament what I need.  I recently learned a valuable lesson that has helped me make the Sacrament more meaningful.

Before Christ, covenant people participated in the law of sacrifice, which included sacrificing animals.  After Christ's death, this practice was done away with and the Sacrament was instituted by Christ himself.  "The death of Jesus Christ...ended the shedding of blood as a gospel ordinance. It is now replaced in the Church by the sacrament of the bread and the water, in remembrance of the offering of Jesus Christ." (Bible Dictionary: Sacrifice).  

Now, I had previously realized that the act of sacrificing animals ended with the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  What I did NOT realize is that the sacrament REPLACED that ancient act.  The sacrament is like a sacrificial altar.  I had never thought of the sacrament table as an altar!  So, what are we supposed to sacrifice?  

Elder Lynn G. Robbins in the Notes at the end of his talk, "The Righteous Judge" said, "The sacrifice we offer on the altar of the sacrament table each week is a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  A broken heart is a repentant heart; a contrite spirit is an obedient spirit."

When we have a repentant heart, we turn away from sin (give sin up) and turn to God.  So, you can say that we need to sacrifice our sins.  Elder Robbins said, "An unwillingness to sacrifice as part of our penitence mocks or belittles Christ's greater sacrifice for the same sin and trivializes His suffering - a callous sign of ingratitude."  

As I continued to read in the conference Ensign, I came upon the talk "The Doctrine of Christ" by Brian K. Ashton.  He said, "Make a conscious effort each week to prepare for the sacrament by taking some time to prayerfully consider where we most need to improve.  We could then bring a sacrifice of at least one thing that keeps us from being like Jesus Christ to the sacrament altar, pleading in faith for help, asking for necessary spiritual gifts, and covenanting to improve during the coming week."  In the notes he said, "One might frequently bring the same sacrifice for weeks at a time until, with the help of the Savior, and as Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, 'it [is] consumed'."  A friend of mine  pointed out that it is interesting that "consumed" is the word here.  Parts of the ancient sacrifices were "consumed" or eaten.  Also, we "consume" the bread and water of the sacrament.  How fitting that through the Atonement of Christ our sins and weaknesses can be consumed!

I decided to try this out last week, on Fast Sunday.  As I took the sacrament, I envisioned that sacred table as an altar.  In my mind, I laid down a particular sin or weakness on the altar.  I imagined giving it over to the Savior, and I asked that Heavenly Father would replace that with the good that would bring me closer to the Savior in that particular area.

Throughout the week, I have found that this prayer has been answered, and I have had the opportunity to do better in certain circumstances!  I may have to "frequently bring the same sacrifice,"  but every improvement is to be celebrated!  He is so good to me!  His tender mercies show up so profoundly in my life!!

The sacrament could be different and more significant for us each week as we bring our individual sacrifices to the altar.  We sacrifice those things that are keeping us from becoming more like and coming closer to the Savior.  As we do this, His ultimate sacrifice is not trivialized in our lives, and we are blessed beyond measure!

The 3 C's to Avoid to Gain Greater Happiness

I was taught a timely lesson as a first year teacher, and I have never forgotten it.  I learned in an institute class to avoid three "C's."  Here they are!
Avoid
1. Comparing
2. Criticizing
3. Complaining

Found Here 

These three C's seem to show up at the darndest times, just when I think I have learned my lessons concerning them.  When they are present, joy and gratitude are not.  They make you question your worth and the worth of others.  It's best to try the Three C Elimination Diet!

Let's look at each culprit individually.

1.  Comparison

The ugly green-headed Comparison, who happens to be cousins with the green monster ~ Envy.  You'll usually find these two together.  They are quite the inseparable pair.  There is no room in a joyful life for these two. 

When we compare ourselves with others, we often focus on their strengths and somehow discount our own.  We focus on what they have that we don't.  We lose gratitude for what we already have and the strengths that we already possess somehow believing that we are lacking, flawed, missing out, or not enough.

On the flip side, you meet Comparison's other cousin, Pride.  When we start thinking we are better than others or that we have more than others and this becomes more important than others, we are on a very slippery slope indeed.

Heavenly Father did not send us to Earth to COMPETE with each other, He sent us to COMPLEMENT each other.  We all have different strengths and weaknesses that are individualized for our life path.  We were sent for different purposes.  Our gifts complement each other and can benefit all.  (By the way, if you are interested, you should look up the definitions of "complement" and "compliment" and notice the difference.)  We each have individual blessings and trials tailored to our learning and growth, and to help us become more like our Heavenly Father.  Of course these blessings and trials are going to look differently, because they are individualized!  We are each on a different path, so comparing what you've packed to go on a trip to the Arctic with things that someone else has packed to go to Arizona seems pretty silly, right?

Found Here 

2. Criticism  

To put it simply, if the choice is between criticism and kindness, always. choose. kindness.  You will find what you are looking for in life and in people, places, situations, etc.  If you choose to look for the bad, to blame, and find fault, it will be more than easy to do so.  But, if you choose to find the good, the positive, and things to be grateful for, you will also find it.  Guess which one leads to greater happiness?

There are enough harsh, unrighteous judgments (different than righteous judgment) out there.  There is enough negativity.  There is too much that tears individuals down, and not enough that builds them up.

Choose  to lift up, to show mercy, kindness, patience, long-suffering, support, friendship, LOVE.  Guess who has these attributes?  

Personal criticism is not good for the criticizer or the one being criticized.  It usually does not bring about positive change.  So, it's time to stop the negative criticism, the kind that does not come from the Spirit.

President Hinckley, known for his optimism, said, "Criticism, faultfinding, evil speaking-these are the sentiments of our day.... Everywhere is heard the insulting remark, the sarcastic comment, the verbal attack against the reputations of others. Sadly, these are too often the bases of our conversation. In our homes, wives cry and children break down emotionally under critical attacks from husbands and fathers. Criticism is the seed of divorce, and it  develops rebellion in our young. Sometimes it leads even to the destruction of individual  self-worth...

I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and problems of life, and enjoy  more fully  the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we concentrate on the positive. I  am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we halt the sounds of insult and  sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. I am not asking that all  criticism be silenced. Growth comes of correction. Strength comes of repentance. Wise is  the man who can acknowledge mistakes pointed out by others and change his course of  action.

What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that spreads through our  society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom we associate, that we   speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism   replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears. When I was a young man and was   inclined to speak critically of people or events, my father would say: 'Pessimists do not   contribute, unbelievers do not create,  doubters do not achieve.'" (Find the full talk HERE.)

Found HERE

3. Complaining 

Ok, so I admit, complaining is in my extroverted nature.  It just comes naturally.  This does not mean that I have no control over the complaints that seem to spill out of my mouth.  It does mean that I have to work harder to keep complaints in check. 

I will say that I truly believe there is a difference between venting, working through negative emotions and situations by talking about it, and just complaining.  We need to be able to voice our emotions in a healthy way.  Emotions not dealt with tend to show up over and over again in so many different areas of our lives.  Stuffing them deep down inside is destructive.  So, we do need to find healthy, CONSTRUCTIVE ways to deal with negative emotions.

The difference between constructive, healthy release of emotion and plain old complaining to me is this:  one leads to solutions; the other leads no where.  The difference is where you set up camp.  Do you set up camp in the Cavern of Complaint, where the darkness creeps in and all  you can see are your problems and yourself as a victim?  Or do you set up camp on Solution Slope, where you are working to overcome your problems and seeking to be proactive and empowered?  Here you are climbing to higher planes.  You may rest a bit, cry a bit, have a tantrum or two, but you don't stay there.  You keep moving up; you find solutions; you get out of victim mode!   

So, there you have it folks.  The 3 C's to avoid.  May the Lord help us with our Three C Elimination Diet!  We will lose the weight of some depression, self-depreciation, and negativism.  We will gain positive relationship muscles that will improve our relationships with others, ourselves, and God.

May God continually bless you on your personal journey!

Much love, as always!🎔

Heather